To run or not to run, that is the question

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Associated Press

Simon Pegg is best known for his roles in comedic mockeries of overused Hollywood films such as “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.” Unfortunately, “Run Fatboy Run” isn’t one of these films.

“Run Fatboy Run” is the same old story about a guy who leaves his out-of-league fianc’eacute; at the altar, runs into conflict with said woman’s new boyfriend and eventually wins her back after she realizes her new boyfriend is a jerk.

Although the film isn’t an outright parody, “Run Fatboy Run” falls into the rut of parody films.

There are some laugh-out-loud moments in “Run Fatboy Run,” but most of them are in the previews and quickly forgotten. One of the most memorable lines is, “I’m not fat. I’m just unfit,” but anyone who’s seen the trailer has already heard it.

The setting of the film is confusing because of the strange mix of English and American accents. It seems as if the actors merely talked in their regular speaking voice. If this was attempt at humor, it should have been more subtle; it came across as careless.

This film suffers from the absence of Nick Frost, Pegg’s real life best friend and co-star in “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.” Audiences have come to expect the pair and leaving Frost out creates a noticeable hole. Maybe Pegg went at it without Frost to prove he can be funny by himself, but mostly falls short.

Pegg is best when he plays the normal person in a world of over-the-top characters, which Frost is great at playing. Instead Pegg is a normal person in a world of slightly ridiculous characters, which resulted in his most underwhelming star role in a film so far.

Pegg co-wrote the film with comedian Michael Ian Black and it might be the worst thing either have ever been a part of. “Run Fatboy Run” was directed by David Schwimmer (“Friends”), but his name went basically unnoticed until the credits rolled. It would have been smart to play up his name in the previews as a main contributor to draw attention to the film.

“Run Fatboy Run” is not a terrible movie, it is just full of wasted potential. It’s an alright way to kill 100 minutes, but a flick audiences shouldn’t go out of their way see.

SOTA Choral Studies Director Dr. Randy Pennington resigned on Friday after a university investigation found he violated its sexual harassment policy. Four students and a faculty member brought concerns to the university last October, and Pennington was put on administrative leave pending a Title IX investigation on Oct. 23.